Automatic canopy buckle

ABSTRACT

A FAILURE SAID BUCKLE IN WHICH A LUG OF A MALE BUCKLE PART IS CAPTURED IN A RECESS OF A FEMALE BUCKLE PART BY A LATCH SLIDE, THE LATCH SLIDE BEING RELEASABLY LOCKED IN A POSITION OVERLYING THE RECESS AND ENGAGED WITH THE LUG, AND IN WHICH THE LOCK MECHANISM INCLUDES RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS BIASED TO LOCKING POSITIONS TO LOCK THE LATCH SLIDE AGAINST MOVEMENT, THE RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS REQUIRING SIMULTANEOUS OPPOSITE MOVEMENT TO PERMIT SHIFTING OF THE LATCH SLIDE TO A POSITION RELEASING THE LUG, AND CAMS ACTING ON SUCH RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS TO MOVE THE SAME IN RESPONSE TO FIRING OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGES IN THE BUCKLE. SUCH A BUCKLE IN WHICH THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES ARE IGNITED BY CLOSURE OF A REMOTE SWITCH.

Sept. 28, 1971 4 CQYLE 3,608,160

Q AUTOMATIC CANOPY BUCKLE Filed Feb. 19, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet .L

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(In/VB. COYLE Sept. 28, 1971 COYLE 3,608,160

AUTOMATIC CANOPY BUCKLE Filed Feb. 19, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N vE/v-roe LIA/VB COYLE Sept. 28, 1971 J. R. COYLE 3,608,160

AUTOMATIC CANOPY BUCKLE Filed Feb. -l9, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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IN VE/V 70/2 J M/B. Cons 1 zzwwiz United States Patent 3,608,160 AUTOMATIC CANOPY BUCKLE Jan R. Coyle, 514 E. Ghent, San Dimas, Calif. 91773 Filed Feb. 19, 1969, Ser. No. 800,398 Int. Cl. A44b 11/25 US. Cl. 24-230 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A failure safe buckle in which a lug of a male buckle part is captured in a recess of a female buckle part by a latch slide, the latch slide being releasably locked in a position overlying the recess and engaged with the lug, and in which the lock mechanism includes relatively movable parts biased to locking positions to lock the latch slide against movement, the relatively movable parts requiring simultaneous opposite movement to permit shifting of the latch slide to a position releasing the lug, and cams acting on such relatively movable parts to move the same in response to firing of explosive charges in the buckle. Such a buckle in which the explosive charges are ignited by closure of a remote switch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is the practice to provide harness equipment for use in securing cargo in various airplanes, helicopters and other craft and to provide harness equipment for aircraft pilots and crew, the harness equipment including buckles which are subjected to severe forces during flight, as well as sonic vibrations, which forces and vibrations sometimes cause failure or inadvertent opening of a buckle. On the other hand, such buckles when included in the harness for the pilot or crew must be operable with ease and dispatch in emergency situations, but should not be subject to inadvertent opening in the event of accidental contact with the release mechanism.

In addition, a buckle for use in the above-mentioned environment should be capable of being opened by an explosive or pressure charge if the pilot or crewman is injured and incapable of manipulating the release mechanism. Another advantage of a buckle adapted for release by an explosive or gas charge would be the ability to release materials from a parachute at a given or selected elevation by triggering the separation of the buckle when the parachute reaches the selected elevation, or on the other hand, it may be desired that the buckle be openable in response to immersion of a water-activated switch.

SUMMARY The present invention, therefore, provides a canopy buckle which is of strong, rugged construction, and which is easily released in response to manipulation of a release mechanism in a manner which cannot be caused by forces or vibrations imposed on the buckle during use. In accomplishing this, the buckle is constructed so as to remain locked until releasable locking means are specifically manually or automatically operated in a sequence of steps which cannot be effected by forces applied to the locking means by accident or mistake, or as a result of such catastrophy as an aerial collision.

More specifically, the invention provides a buckle comprising complemental male and female buckle parts, the

male part being receivable in a recess in the female part and being latched in place, the latch means being locked against displacement from a latching position, except following specific and intentional operation of the locking means, but upon release of the latch means, the male part being completely free of any restraint from separation from the female part. In this construction, the buckle latch means are independent of the locking means, and the arrangement of parts is such that destruction of the locking means or the male buckle component cannot result from loads on the buckle, and in addition the male and female buckle components so interfit as to prevent the inadvertent opening of the buckle due to varus strain or tendency of the parts to hinge.

Moreover, the latch and locking means for the latch are so constructed that an explosive charge or gas charge may be employed to effect release of the locking means by the application of the explosive force or gas pressure to the operating means for the locking means.

In addition to the foregoing, the buckle is so constructed as to be tightly connected, thereby avoiding annoying rattle, without need for the use of cushioning members between relatively movable, loosely fitting parts.

An object of the invention is to provide a buckle having a releasable latching mechanism in which the load bearing areas of the buckle are isolated from the latch components.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a canopy release buckle which is rugged, dependable, and capable of manual release or automatic release by closure of a remote switch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an airman in canopy harness including buckles exemplifying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale, showing one embodiment of a buckle assembly latched and locked;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the buckle assembly;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the assembly, showing the buckle latched, as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view, as taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, showing the buckle latched;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, but showing the buckle released;

FIG. 7 is a view in transverse section, as taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view diagrammatically showing the lock means locked;

FIG. 9 is a view diagrammatically showing the lock means released in full lines and diagrammatically showing in broken lines the lock means shifted to the latch releasing position;

FIG. 10 is an exploded detail view in perspective showing the components of the assembly;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the buckle assembly;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section through the assembly of FIG. 11, showing the buckle latched and locked and taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view in transverse section, as taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a view in transverse section, as taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the key for preventing sliding of the buckle lug within the buckle recess; and

FIG. 16 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the actuator cam for releasing the buckle assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in the drawings, the invention involves the provision of a buckle B, a pair of which is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being interposed in an airmans harness generally denoted at H, a female buckle part 1 being connected to a portion of the harness which constitutes a part of an airmans parachute pack and a male buckle part 2 being shown as attached to a portion of the harness H which is secured to the airmans toroso suit or the likwe. Each of the buckle parts 1 and 2 has ears 3 adapted to support a cross-pin 4 whereby the webbing or harness H may be afiixed to the respective buckle parts.

Generally speaking, the female buckle part 1 comprises a body '5 having a recess or cavity 6 adapted a lug or prong 7 projecting from the body 8 of the male buckle part 2. Slidably supported by the female buckle part body is a latch or slide 9 adapated to engage the lug 7 of the male buckle part 2 to hold the same in the recess 6. As will be more particularly described hereinafter, actuator means generally denoted at 10 are provided whereby the slide 9 may be manually caused to shift inwardly with respect to the body 5 so as to release the male lug 7 from the recess 6; and, in addition, automatic means generally denoted at 11 are provided for effecting operation of the actuator means so that the buckles may be released, notwithstanding the inability of the airman to personally effect operation of the manual means 10.

As seen in FIGS. 5 through 7 and 10, the female buckle body 5 has a rectangular recess or slide receiving pocket 12 therein adapted to slidably accommodate the slide 9, the slide 9 having a body portion 13 adapted to substantially fill the cavity 12 and a forward angularly disposed face 14 merging with an upper lip portion 15. The face 14 of the slide 9 is adapted to cooperate with a face 16 forming the forward angular surface of the cavity 6 into which the male lug 7 extends when the buckle is assembled. The lug 7 on the male buckle part 2 extends outwardly and downwardly at an angle so that its rear face 17 is adapted for abutting engagement with the face 16 within the female buckle part 1, and the outer face 18 of the lug 7 is adapted to be engaged by the angular underface 14 of the slide 9. Extended transversely of the buckle part 2 above the lug 7 is a channel 19 defined between an outstanding flange 20 on the buckle part-body 8 and the upper portion of the lug 7, this channel 19 being adapted to receive the lip portion 15 of the slide 9, as seen in FIG. 5. In the preferred construction the width of the male lug 7 is such that it will extend laterally into angularly disposed slots 7a formed at opposite extremities of the recess 6 whereby to effect engagement of the lug 7 with the body 5 to prevent hinging of the body parts. A closure plate 21 is adapted to overlie the cavity 12 of the female body section '5 and to be secured in place thereon by suitable fasteners 22 so as to confine the slide 9 within the female body 5. Means are provided for normally biasing the latch slide 9 forwardly toward the face 16 thereof and, in the illustrative embodiment, such means includes a coiled compression spring 23, and end of which is disposed in a seat 24 formed in the rear wall 25 of the female body cavity 12 and acting on the opposing wall of the latch slide 9.

Accordingly, it is apparent that the male buckle part lug 7 is adapted to be inserted into the female recess 6 against the opposing force provided by the spring 23 tending always to bias the latch slide forwardly. Following insertion of the lug 7 the spring 23 forces the latch slide to a latching position at which its lip 15 is disposed in the channel or groove 19 and the lug 7 is closely confined in the recess 6, as seen in FIG. 4. In order to release the lug 7 from the recess 6 it is required that the latch slide 9 be actuated rearwardly or away from the male buckle part 2 by the manual actuator means 10 or the automatic actuator means 11, but, as previously indicated, these actuator means are so constructed as to avoid inadvertent operation thereof with resultant inadvertent release of the buckle assemblies.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7 through 10, the manual actuator means in the illustrative embodiment now being described is seen to comprise a pair of actuator plates respectively designated 30 and 40, these plates being preferably slidably disposed in a recess or cavity 50 in the upper surface of the closure plate 21 so as to be flush therewith. The slide plate 30 has a pair of depending pins 31, 31 extending downwardly through a pair of slots 51, 51 in the closure plate 21. The plate 21 has oppositely facing notches 51a and 51 respectively located at oposite ends of the elongated slots 51, and the pins 31 of the plate 30 are adapted to be disposed in the notches 51a when the plate 30 is in one position, or in the slots 51 when the plate 30 is shifted in a direction to move the pins 31 from the notches 51a. Correspondingly, the plate 40 has a pair of depending pins 41, 41 also adapted to extend through the slots 51 and to be engaged either in the notches 5112 or in the slots 51 when shifted in a direction opposite the direction in which plate 30 is shifted to place the pins 31 in the slots 51. The plates 30 and 40 have oppositely facing lug portions 32 and 42 which interenga'ge and overlap a distance greater than either of the plates 30 or 40 is capable of moving but less than the combined motion when both plates 30 and 40 are shifted in directions to move the pins 31 and 41 from the respective notches 51a and 5111, as is apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9.

In order to assemble the plates 30 and 40 in association with the female buckle part 1, the pins 31 and 41 extend downwardly into a pair of recesses or cavities 60 in the latch or slide 9, and retainer pins 61 extend transversely through the cavities 60 and through openings 62 in the pins 31 and openings 63 in the pins 41. Within the cavities 60 a coiled compression spring 64 is disposed about one of the retainer pins 61 and is adapted to abut with one of the pins 31 depending from the plate 30 so as to bias the plate 30 in a locking direction, that is, to bias the pins 31 into the notches 51a; another coiled compression spring 65 is disposed about the other retainer pins 61 Within one of the cavities 60 and acts in the other direction on one of the pins 41 depending from the plate 40 so as to force the latter in a latching direction, that is, to force the pins 41 into the notches 51b.

Suitable means are provided for enabling the manual actuation of the plates 30 and 40 in opposite directions so as to disengage the pins 31 from the notches 51a and disengage the pins 41 from the notches 5112, that is, from the position of FIG. 8 to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 9, whereby thereafter the pins 31 and 41 are free to move longitudinally of the slots 51 to the positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 9, at which positions the latch slide 9 will have been moved from the latching position of FIG. 4 to a retracted position, allowing removal of the lug 7 from the recess 6. In the illustrative embodiment, each of the plates 30 and 40 is shown as having thereupon upwardly extended finger pieces 30a and 30b whereby the plates 30 and 40 may be manually shifted as aforesaid if it is desired that the buckles B be manually opened by the airman, as in the illustrating of FIG. 1. However, if the buckles are to be operated in an automatic mode, then it is necessary that the relative motion of the pins 31 and 41 be accomplished automatically. In the illustrative embodiment the automatic actuator means 11 is adapted to effect such motion of the pins 31 and 41.

Illustratively in the embodiment now being described, the automatic actuator means includes a pair of ca-m plates respectively designated 70 and 80 and respectively shiftably disposed in guide channels or ways 71 and 72 in the base of the female buckle body '5. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 10, the cam plate 70 includes a first camming surface 71a adapted to engage a downward extension 31:: of one of the pins 31 and a second camming surface 71b adapted to engage a downward extension 41a of one of the pins 41. Likewise, the cam plate 80 includes a first camming surface 81a adapted to engage a downward extension 31a of the other pin 31 and another camming surface 81b adapted to engage a downward extension 41a of the other pin 41. Essentially the cam slides are redundant in that either of them may be caused to move from the retracted position of FIG. to the projected position of FIG. 6 to result in camming of the respective pins 31 and 41 from the recesses 51a and 51b by the action of the respective cam surfaces 71a, 81a and 71b, 81b on the respective downward extensions 31b and 41a of the pins 31 and 41. Further projection of the cam slides or plates 70 or 80 will then effect retraction of the latch slide 9.

Means are provided to effect operation of the cam plates 70 and 80. In the illustrative embodiment now being described, the cam plate 70 is provided with a pyrotechnic device 72 disposed in a chamber 73 provided in an enlarged body section 74 of the cam plate 70, this enlarged body portion 74 being slidably disposed in a groove 75 (FIG. 7) formed within the base of the female buckle body part 5. Referring to FIG. 6,

the pyrotechnic device generally denoted at 72 Will be seen to comprise a powder charge 72a in the chamber 73 and a piston 72b adapted to be forced from the chamber 73 upon ignition of a firing cap or squib 720, the latter being provided with electrical conductor leads 72d leading from body 5 through an opening 7212 which may be suitably sealed or potted with sealant as at 72 The pyrotechnic device 72 is also constructed so that following its operation and following movement of the cam plate 70 in a direciton to effect release of the buckle, the cam plate 70 will be locked in the projected position. In the illustrative embodiment a normally outwardly expansible locking ring 72g is carried by the piston 72b and is confined inwardly within the chamber 73. However, upon movement of the cam plate 70 in a buckle releasing direction, the resilient lock ring 72g will snap outwardly to effect locking engagement in an annular locking groove 72h provided within the chamber 73.

A similar pyrotechnic device 82 is provided for effecting actuation of the cam plate 80 but needs no further description herein in that it would be essentially identical to the pyrotechnic device 72.

As previously indicated, the pair of cam plates 70 and 80 and the pair of pyrotechnic devices 72 and 82 provide a fully redundant system, either one of which is fully operative to effect release of the buckle. However, in FIGS. 11 through 16 there is illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention in which pyrotechnic devices are employed redundantly but a single lock mechanism is employed requiring the use of only a single cam plate, as will now be described.

As in the first described embodiment, the embodiment of FIGS. 11 through 16 includes the female buckle part 1 and the male buckle part 2, respectively provided with ears 3 and pins 4 for attachment thereto of the harness webbing H. In this embodiment the female body is designated 105 and provides a recess 106 for reception of the male lug 107 of the male buckle part 2. The latch slide is designated 109 and includes the lip portion 115 engageable in the groove or channel 119 provided by the male buckle part. The closure plate 121 is secured to the female buckle part as by fastener means 122, and within the female body part is the recess or cavity 112 in which the latch slide 109 is reciprocable between a latching position, as shown in FIG. 12, under the influence of the spring 123 and a retracted position, not shown, either under the influence of the manual operating means generally denoted at or the automatic operating means generally denoted at 111.

The manual operating means 110 includes, as in the first described embodiment, a pair of relatively laterally reciprocable plates and having finger pieces 130a and 13% thereon for effecting relative reciprocation of the plates 130 and 140 as well as movement of the plates jointly longitudinally of the buckle assembly, in response to the shifting of a pin 131 from a notch 151a and shifting of a pin 141 from a notch 151b into an elongated slot 151 provided in the closure plate 121.

As in the previously described embodiment, a coiled compression spring 164 acts on the pin 131 to bias the plate 130 in one direction, and a spring 165 acts upon the pin 141 to bias the plate 140 in the other direction so that the interlocking lugs 132 and 142, respectively, are normally engaged, requiring movement of both of the plates to disengage both of the pins 131 and 141 from the respective notches 151a and 151b before the plates may be jointly moved longitudinally to effect retraction of the slide 109. The pin 131 has a downward extension 131a and the pin 141 has a downward extension 141a engageable by a cam slide which is provided with cam surfaces 171a and 171k whereby to cam the pins 131 and 141 relatively toward one another responsive to movement of the cam plate 170 under the influence of a pyrotechnic device 172, the details of which pyrotechnic device need not be further illustrated herein but which indeed would be similar to the pyrotechnic device 72 previously described. It will be noted, however, that the cam plate 170 is provided with a pair of cavities 173 in opposing arms 174 which are slidably disposed in recesses 175 in the base of the female body part 105. Thus it is apparent that upon firing of either of the pyrotechnic devices the single slide 170 will be actuated to effect automatic release of the buckle.

In order to eliminate camming action by the angularly disposed lug 107 within the female recess 106 in response to axial strain tending to separate the buckle assembly, the present embodiment provides a key designated 200 which, as best seen in FIGS. 12, 14 and 15, is so constructed as to extend transversely of the lug 107 being connected thereto by a lost-motion connection including a slot 201 and a pin 202. This key 200 is adapted to fit into a transversely extended groove 203 provided in the base wall 116 of the recess 106. At its upper end region, the key 200 is provided with a transversely extended groove 204 formed by an overhanging lip 205 provided with an inwardly extended portion 207 formed on a radius. This lip 205, and more particularly the radius portion 207, cooperates with a lip 208 formed on the slide plate 109 and providing a radius at 209. The radius 209 and the radial lip 207 cooperate upon sliding movement of the latch plate 109 into the latched position of FIG. 12. to effectively move the key slightly in the groove 203 as permitted by the lost-motion connection 201, 202 so as to allow interfitting of the lip 208 with the lip 205 of the latch plate 109 and the key 200, respectively. The presence of the key 200 prevents any tendency of the lug 107 to slide along the surface 116 of the recess 106, rendering the entire assembly significantly stronger and capable of resisting axial pulling forces tending to separate the buckle assembly.

It will be understood that, if desired, the buckle of FIGS. 11 through 16 may also be provided with the lateral marginal keyed interfit as previously described in respect of the first embodiment to prevent hinging of the buckle assembly.

While the specific details of illustrative embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described, changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A canopy buckle assembly comprising: a male buckle part having a lug, a female buckle part having a body and a recess for receiving said lug, latch means including a latch member shiftably carried by said body and operable in a first position to engage said lug for releasably holding said lug in said recess, releasable lock means including a stationary locking element on said body and a shiftable locking element wholly carried by said latch member and operable in a first position for releasably holding said latch member in a position in engagement with said lug and latching said lug in said recess, said latch member being shiftable to a second position releasing said lug, said shiftable locking element being shiftable from engagement with said stationary locking element to a second position to move said latch member to its second position, and separate actuator means movable with respect to and engaging said shiftable locking element for automatically shifting said shiftable locking element to its second position thereby releasing said lug from said recess.

2. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a cam plate engageable with said shiftable locking element and shiftable relative to said stationary locking element to move said shiftable locking element to its second position, and means for shifting said cam plate.

3. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a cam plate engageable with said shiftable locking element and shiftable relative to said stationary locking element to move said shiftable locking element to its second position, and means for shifting said cam plate including at least one pyrotechnic device.

4. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a cam plate engageable with said shiftable locking element and shiftable relative to said stationary locking element to move said shiftable locking element to its second position, and means for shifting said cam plate including at least one pyrotechnic device, said pyrotechnic device comprising a piston chamber, a piston in said chamber, a powder charge in said chamber behind said piston, and means for firing said powder charge.

5. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a cam plate engageable with said shiftable locking element and shiftable relative to said stationary locking element to move said shiftable locking element to its second position, and means for shifting said cam plate including at least one pyrotechnic device, said pyrotechnic device comprising a piston chamber, a piston in said chamber, a powder charge in said chamber behind said piston, means for firing said powder charge, and piston locking means for holding said piston in a projected position with said shiftable locking element in its second position following firing of said powder charge.

6. A canopy buckle assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a piston, a chamber in said body in which said piston is reciprocable, and means for holding said piston against return movement following movement of said shiftable locking element to its second position to prevent relocking of said lug in said recess.

7. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes cam means reciprocably carried by said body, pressure responsive means for shifting said cam means, said shiftable lock element having portions engageable by said cam means for moving said shiftable lock element to its second position.

8. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 7, wherein said cam means includes a pair of cam plates each having a pair of opposite cam surfaces, said pressure responsive means including separate pistons acting on each cam plate to move the same in one direction, and said lock means including a pair of oppositely shiftable locking elements respectively having pairs of portions engageable by the respective pairs of cam surfaces on said cam plates for releasing said locking means.

9. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 7, wherein said cam means includes a cam plate having a pair of opposing cam surfaces, said pressure responsive means including a piston acting on said cam plate to move the same in one direction, and said lock means including a pair of oppositely shiftable locking elements respectively having portions engageable by the respective cam surfaces on said cam plate for releasing said locking means.

10. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said lug projects angularly from said male buckle part, said lug having a width greater than said recess, and said female buckle part having keyways at the opposite ends of said recess for receiving the ends of said lug.

11. A canopy buckle as defined in claim 1, wherein said lug projects angularly from said male buckle part, said lug and said female buckle part having cooperative key means for preventing sliding movement of said lug in said recess when said lug is locked in said recess.

12. A canopy buckle assembly comprising: a male buckle part having a lug, a female buckle part including a body having a recess for receiving said lug, said body having a channel, latch means including a slide shiftable in said channel between a retracted position and an extended position in engagement with said lug for holding said lug in said recess, lock means for releasably holding said slide in said extended position including lock elements on said body and shittable lock elements wholly carried by said slide, and actuator means for releasing said lock means and then moving said slide to said retracted position, said actuator means including a cam member shiftable in said body with respect to said slide, said cam member and said shiftable lock elements having coengageable portions for releasing said lock means and then moving said slide to said retracted position upon shifting of said cam member, and pyrotechnic means carried by said body for shifting said cam member as aforesaid.

13. A canopy buckle assembly comprising: a male buckle part having a lug, a female buckle part having a body and a recess for receiving said lug, latch means including a latch member shiftably carried by said body and operable in a first position for releasably holding said lug in said recess, lock means including a stationary locking element on said body and a shiftable locking element carried by said latch member and operable in a first position for releasably holding said latch member in a position latching said lug in said recess, said latch member being shiftable to a second position releasing said lug, said shift able locking element being shiftable to a second position to release said latch member, and actuator means for automatically shifting said shiftable locking element to its second position and said latch member to its second position, said actuator means including means for producing gas under pressure for actuating said actuator means, and means for locking said latch member in its second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,845,676 8/1958 Huber 24-230.1UX 2,988,797 6/ 1961 Gaylord 24-230.1UX 3,149,807 9/ 1964 Jungersen 24-230.1UX 3,200,463 8/1965 Craven 242.30.1UX 3,277,545 10/ 1966 Martin 24230.1UX

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner 

